Warning device for use with boats

ABSTRACT

A portable warning device is mounted on the deck of a boat at anchorage in a harbor and provides an audible warning signal in response to changes in the wind direction relative to the boat. The warning device comprises a pivotable wind vane for sensing the wind direction and a movable electric contact is connected to the wind vane to undergo pivotal movement therewith. A pair of annular electric contact segments are disposed stationary relative to the boat and positioned in spaced-apart relationship along the path of travel of the movable contact to alternatively engage with the movable contact whenever the sensed wind direction relative to the boat exceeds a certain value. A normally open electric circuit is electrically connected to the movable contact and the contact segments such that movement of the movable contact into engagement with either one of the electric contact segments closes the electric circuit. The electric circuit includes a warning device operative when actuated to emit the audible warning signal, and a time delay device for delaying the actuation of the warning device for a predetermined time period after the electric circuit is closed.

United States Patent Rich, in

[451 July 16, 1974 WARNING DEVICE FOR USE WITH BOATS William Rich, III, 454 Fort Washington Ave., New York, NY. 10033 22 Filed: Mar. 5, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 338,173

[76] Inventor:

Primary Examiner-John W. Caldwell Assistant E.\'aminer-Daniel Myer Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Charles E. Baxley, Esq.

[57] ABSTRACT A portable warning device is mounted on the deck of a boat at anchorage in a harbor and provides an audible warning signal in response to changes in the wind direction relative to the boat. The warning device comprises a pivotable wind vane for sensing the wind direction and a movable electric contact is connected to the wind vane to undergo pivotal movement therewith, A pair of annular electric contact segments are disposed stationary relative to the boat and positioned in spaced-apart relationship along the path of travel of the movable contact to alternatively engage with the movable contact whenever the sensed wind direction relative to the boat exceeds a certain value. A normally open electric circuit is electrically connected to the movable contact and the contact segments such that movement of the movable contact into engagement with either one of the electric contact segments closes the electric circuit. The electric circuit includes a warning device operative when actuated to emit the audible warning signal, and a time delay device for delaying the actuation of the warning device for a predetermined time period after the electric circuit is closed.

6 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures AUDIBLE WARNING DEVIICE TIME DELAY W DEVICE PAIENTED JUU 3 3 824. '57 5 AUDIBLE ME WARNING 2? DELAY DEVICE DEViCE FIG, 5

WARNING DEVICE FOR USE WITH BOATS The present invention pertains to a warning device for boats and more particularly, to a warning device for emitting an audible warning signal in response to wind changes relative to the boat.

It is customary for sail boats and other vessels to anchor in a harbor whenever moorings or docks are not available in order to prevent them from drifting about aimlessly in the harbor. The anchors used on boats of this size are not very heavy and depend upon their design features rather than their mass to effect a stable anchorage.

It is well known that small boats up to approximately seventy feet in length normally undergo some degree of swing while at anchor. The most common type of anchorage is a single bow anchor and when such is utilized, the boat tends to align itself facing directly into the wind. Depending upon the particular boat design and taking into account the prevalent weather conditions, the boat will swing or pivot about the anchor line through some small angle which is hereinafter referred to as the normal swing angle. For boats of the type described, the normal swing angle is approximately -30 from the wind.

Unfortunately, harbor bottoms are oftentimes covered with widespread debris which hinders obtainment of a good anchorage and may even preclude any type of anchorage. This is always a dangerous condition and is especially dangerous during the evenings when all of the crew members are below deck sleeping. If the anchor should fail to hold during the evening, the boat will begin to drift about in dependence upon the wind and tide conditions and such a situation is called dragging. During dragging, the wind will carry the boat at almost right-angles to the wind direction, assuming that only a single bow anchor is used, and the anchor will be dragged aimlessly along the harbor bottom. This is an extremely hazardous condition at night since the crew members are usually asleep and the dragging may not be noticed until the boat has run aground or run into another boat.

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a warning device which emits an audible warning signal whenever the boat remains at an abnormal swing angle relative to the wind.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a warning device which emits an audible sound only after the boat remains at an abnormal swing angle relative to the wind for a predetermined time period which is indicative of the dragging phenomenon.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a warning device which produces an audible sound whenever the boat is at an abnormal swing angle with respect to the wind direction and which has means for adjusting the swing angle.

It is yet still another object of the present invention to provide a warning device which emits an audible sound whenever the boat is at an abnormal swing angle with respect to the wind direction and which is simple and inexpensive in construction yet very rugged and reliable in operation.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a portable warning device for producing an audible sound in response to changes in the wind direction relative to the boat.

The above and other objects of the invention are carried out by a warning device having sensing means for sensing the wind direction relative to a boat and warning means for producing an audible warning sound whenever the sensed wind direction falls outside a predetermined range of wind directions. The sensing means comprises a wind vane mounted for free pivotal movement, and the warning means comprises a movable contact connected to the wind vane for movement therewith, a pair of contact segments disposed in spaced-apart relationship along the path of travel of the movable contact and engageable therewith whenever the wind direction lies outside the predetermined range of wind directions, and an electric circuit for providing an audible output signal whenever 'the contacts are closed.

The present invention will be readily understood by those skilled in the art upon a reading of the present disclosure which describes the principles, features, ad

vantages and construction of a preferred embodiment of the invention when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters denote like parts in the various views, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view, partly in section, of a warning device constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view, partly in section, of the warning device of FIG. 1 shown in conjunction with a boat; and

FIG. 3 is a wiring diagram of one embodiment of electric circuitry embodied in the warning device of the present invention.

As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the warning device comprises, in its broadest aspect, sensing means for sensing the direction of the wind relative to a boat and warning means for providing an audible warning signal whenever the relative wind direction lies outside a preselected range of relative wind directions.

The sensing means for sensing the relative wind direction comprises a wind-responsive vane 12 mounted for angular turning movement on a portable housing 13 by meansof a pivot pin 14. The pivot pin 14 is rigidly connected to the vane 12 and is mounted for angular pivotal movement within a mounting sleeve 15 which forms an integral part of the housing 13. A support ring 16 interconnects the vane 12 and the pivot pin 14 and bears against the upper end of the mounting sleeve 15 to function as a bearing surface for the vane 12. By such a construction, the wind-responsive vane 12 is freely mounted for pivotal movement upon the housing 13 and the vane 12 freely pivots or swings in response to wind forces directed against the major faces of the vane 12.

The warning means comprises a normally open electric circuit 24 for providing an audible warning signal when the circuit is closed. A set of electric contacts is connected in the circuit and function to close the circuit to effect actuation of an audible warning device in response to changes in the wind direction relative to the boat. The set electric contacts comprises a movable contact 20 connected to the windvane 12 for movement therewith by means of an electrically conductive arm 21 and a pair of annular contact segments 22a and 22b each slidably mounted in an annular slideway 23.

Since a boat normally faces into the wind when anchored in an open body of water, the device of the invention takes advantage of this phenomenon and is mounted during use in alignment with the general wind direction. This is diagramically shown in FIG. 2 wherein the device is shown mounted upon a boat B which is assumed to be facing into the wind and it may be seen that the annular contact segments 22a and 22b are symmetrically positioned with respect to the direction in which the wind is blowing. It should of course be understood that the device need not be mounted in alignment with the center line of the boat and the only requirement is that the device be initially orientated such that the wind vane 12 is biased by the wind to a position wherein same lies midway between the annular contact segments 22a and 22b.

A By this arrangement, the annular contact segment 22a is located on the starboard side of the boat and the annular contact segment 22b is located on the port side of the boat so that the movable contact may move along an arcuate path of travel into engagement with either of the annular contact segments in response to pivotal angular movement of the vane 12 caused by a change in the wind direction relative to the boat. The distance between the pair of contact segments as measured along the path of travel of the movable contact defines the range of sensed wind directions which may occur without closing the electric circuit 24. As best seen in FIG. 2, the movable contact 20 may move through an angle of approximately 2030 in either the clockwise or counterclockwise direction before engaging with one of the annular contact segments and this freedom of movement provides the boat with a normal swing angle of about 20-30 from the wind without effecting actuation of the warning device. In the event the anchor fails to hold and the boat begins to drag, the boat will exceed its normal swing angle almost instantaneously and swing through an angle of 6090 thereby moving one of the annular contact segments into engagement with the movable contact 20 and effecting closure of the electric circuit.

The electric circuit 24 is shown digramically in FIG. 3 and such comprises a source of electrical energy 25, such as a pair of conventional dry cell batteries, electrically connected in series with an audible. warning device 27 and a time delay device 28. The movable contact 20 is electrically connected to the negative terminal of the source of electrical energy whereas the two annular contact segments 22a, 22b are connected through the time delay device and the audible warning device to the positive terminal of the source of electrical energy.

The audible warning device 27 comprises any conventional sound-emitting device such as a buzzer, siren, bell or horn and the only requirement is that the sound emitted by the device be loud enough to alert the crew that the boat is at an abnormal angle to the wind. In accordance with the disclosed embodiment, the warning device is directly actuated by the source of electrical energy and it is understood that the warning device may be actuated by compressed air or other similar means which in turn is actuated by the source of electrical energy. The time'delay device 28 functions to delay the actuation of the warning device for a predetermined time period after the movable contact 20 engages with one of the annular contact segments 22a, 22b thereby preventing unnecessary actuation of the warning device which would otherwise occur. For example, each type of boat reacts differently to wind gusts and tide changes and the time delay device insures that the warning device is not actuated during eachmomentary shifting in position of the wind vane 12 relative to the housing 13.

The time delay device 28 may comprise a conventional electronic delay device or a conventional electromechanical delay device and it is preferable that the device provide a time delay of approximately 15 seconds. Moreover, it is preferable that the delay device be variably set so that the time delay may be selectivly varied to most effectively adapt the device of the invention to boats and crafts of various weights and sizes.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, positioning means is employed for adjustably positioning the annular contact segments 22a, 22b in relation to the movable contact 20. The positioning means is best shown in FIG. 2 and comprises a T-shaped actuating lever 30 having'an elongated leg 31 and a pair of arms 32, 33 connected to one end of the leg 31 and projecting outwardly therefrom at right angles to the leg 31. An elongated slot is provided in each arm and coacts with a pin attached to the annular contact segments to form a pin-and-slot connection interconnecting the annular contact segments to the T-shaped-lever 30.

At the other end of the leg 31 is provided displacing means for axially displacing the actuating lever 30 to accordingly effect sliding actuation of the annular contact segments 22a, 22b. The displacing means comprises a rack and pinion mechanism including a toothed rack 35 affixed to the underside of the leg 31 and a toothed pinion gear 36 rotatably mounted in the housing 13 and in meshing engagement with the rack 35. A manually graspable wheel 38 is connected by means of a shaft 39 to the pinion gear 36 such that manual rotation of the wheel 38 effects a corresponding rotation of the pinion gear 36.

By suchan arrangement, the swing angle through i which the boat may swing without actuating the warning device may be easily adjusted by turning the wheel 38. When the wheel 38 is turned, the pinion gear 36 coacts with the toothed rack 35 to effect linear movement of the actuating lever 30. Assuming that the wheel'38 is turned in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 1, the actuating lever 30 will be linearly advanced in the rightward direction. As the actuating lever 30 moves rightward, the annular contact segments 22a, 22b are also advanced in the rightward direction along the slideways 23 due to the pin-and-slot connections thereby increasing the angle through which the movable contact 20 must move before making contact with one of the annular contact segments. Thus the swing angle is increased in response to rightward movement of the actuating lever 30 and in a similar manner, the

swing angle is reduced in response to leftward movement of the actuating lever.

An indicator is mounted on the housing and provides a visual indication of the swing angle set by the wheel 38. The indicator comprises a pointer 40 carried by the actuating lever 30 and cooperative with a series of graduated markings 41 on the housing 13 to indicate the swing angle setting. The graduated markings 41 are calibrated in degrees and each reading indicates the angleof swing that the movable contact 20 can make in either direction before making electrical contact with one of the annular contact segments 22a or 22b.

As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the energy source 25 along I with the audible warning device 27 and the time delay device 28 are mounted interiorally of the housing 13 and occupy the relative positions shown in the drawings. A pair of elongated openings 44 are provided in the side of the housing 13 adjacent the soundemitting portion of the audible warning device 27 and the openings function to permit the sound waves generated by the warning device to be readily propogated exteriorally of the housing thereby insuring that the sound has sufficient loudness to awaken the crew members.

The operation of the warning device will now be described assuming that the boat B is anchored in a harbor by means of a single bow anchor with the bow facing into the wind. The warning device is brought on deck and orientated relative to the boat so that the longitudinal axis of the housing aligns with the wind direction whereby the wind vane 12 points directly into the wind and the movable contact 20 is centered equidistantly between the annular contact segments 22a and 22b. The positioning means is actuated to set the desired swing angle for the boat taking into account the freeboard of the boat, the hull design, the tide conditions, etc. whereupon the warning device is ready for use.

If the wind then changes direction and comes, for example, across the starboard quarter, the wind vane 12 will immediately pivot in a clockwise direction in FIG. 2 until same again aligns with the wind direction. The movable contact 20 will follow the movement of the wind vane 12 and accordingly pivot in a clockwise direction and make electrical contact with the annular contact segment 22a. At the moment the two contacts make electrical connection, the electric circuit 24 shown in F IG. 3 is closed thereby immediately energizing the time delay device 28 and this denotes the condition wherein the sensed wind direction lies outside the predetermined range of relative wind directions determined by the spacing between the annular contact'segments 22a and 22b. If, the anchor remains secure, the boat will pivot about the anchor line and again orientate itself so that it faces into the wind and as the boat gradually changes position, the housing 13 undergoes clockwise pivotal movement relative to the wind vane 12 thereby repositioning the contacts in the positions shown in the drawings. The boat will normally complete its swing about the anchor line prior to the expiration of the delay time set by the time delay device 28 and consequently the electric circuit will again be opened thereby preventing actuation of the audible warning device 27.

On the other'hand, if the anchor fails to remain secure and dislodges from the harbor bottom, the boat will no longer tend to pivot about the anchor line and instead, the wind will drag the boat at almost right angles to the wind. During the dragging phenomenon, the wind vane 12 is maintained at a substantial angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the housing 13 and this angle far exceeds the normal swing angle for the boat. Thus the movable contact 20 will make electrical contact with the annular contact segment 22a thereby closing the electric circuit. Since the boat is no longer anchored, the boat will not pivot about the anchor line and instead, will be continuously dragged by the coaction of the wind and the dragging anchor and therefore the delay time established by the time delay device 28 will elapse while the circuit is closed thereby automatically effecting actuation of the audible warning device 27. It should be appreciated that duringdragging, the boat will not reposition itself to face into the wind and the electric circuit will remain closed for a long enough time period to enable actuation of the warning device. The warning device then emits an audible warning signal which is loud enough to awaken the crew so that they make take corrective action. 7

Thus it may be appreciatedthat the device of the invention provides an audible warning signal effectively alerting members of the crew that their boat is at an abnormal angle with respect to the wind and provides the crew with sufficient time totake corrective action before the boat runs aground or collides with another boat, a dock, mooring piles or other objects. The device of the invention is extremely simple in construction yet is very rugged and sturdy and therefore capable of withstanding the adverse weather conditions normally encountered by small boats and sailing vessels.

I claim:

1. A warning device usable with a boat at anchorage for providing an audible warning signal in response to changes in wind direction, the warning device comprising: sensing means operative during use of the warning device with the boat at anchorage for sensing the wind direction relative to the boat; and warning means coacting with said sensing means for developing an audible warning signal when the sensed wind directions lies outside a preselected range of relative wind directions, said sensing means comprising a wind vane, means mounting said wind vane for free angular movements in response to wind forces exertedthereon to effect positioning of said wind vane in alignment with the wind direction; said warning means comprising a movable electriccontact connected to said wind vane to undergo angular movement therewith along an arcuate path of travel, a pair of contact segments disposed in spaced-apart relationship along said arcuate path of travel such that the space between said contact'segments as measured along said arcuate pathdefmes said range of relative wind directions and alternatively engageable with said movable electric contact in dependence upon the direction and extent of angular movement thereof, and an electric circuit connected to said movable electric contact and vsaid contact segments and operative when said movable electric contact engages with one of said contact segments to emit said audible warning signal.

2. A warning device according to claim 1; including time delay means coacting with said electric circuit for delaying the development of said audible warning signal until said movable electric contact engages with one of said contact segments for a predetermined time period.

3. A warning device according to claim 1; including positioning means for adjustably positioning said pair of contact segments along said arcuate path of travel to adjust the space therebetween thereby adjustably set ting said range of relative wind directions.

4. A warning device according to claim 3; wherein said positioning means comprises a manually movable member, and means responsive to manual movement of said member for effecting concurrent movement of said pair of contact segments either towards or away from each other depending upon the direction of movement of said member.

5. A warning device according to claim 4; wherein said positioning means further comprises means defining a pair of arcuate slideways disposed along said arcuate path of travel, wherein said pair of contact segments comprise a pair of annular contact segments mounted for sliding movement in respective ones of said slideways, and wherein said means for effecting concurrent movement of said contact segments comprises a displaceable actuating lever pivotally connected at one end by means of a pin-and-slot connection to each contact segment whereby displacement of said actuating lever effects sliding actuation of both manually movable member to said gear. 

1. A warning device usable with a boat at anchorage for providing an audible warning signal in response to changes in wind direction, the warning device comprising: sensing means operative during use of the warning device with the boat at anchorAge for sensing the wind direction relative to the boat; and warning means coacting with said sensing means for developing an audible warning signal when the sensed wind directions lies outside a preselected range of relative wind directions, said sensing means comprising a wind vane, means mounting said wind vane for free angular movements in response to wind forces exerted thereon to effect positioning of said wind vane in alignment with the wind direction; said warning means comprising a movable electric contact connected to said wind vane to undergo angular movement therewith along an arcuate path of travel, a pair of contact segments disposed in spaced-apart relationship along said arcuate path of travel such that the space between said contact segments as measured along said arcuate path defines said range of relative wind directions and alternatively engageable with said movable electric contact in dependence upon the direction and extent of angular movement thereof, and an electric circuit connected to said movable electric contact and said contact segments and operative when said movable electric contact engages with one of said contact segments to emit said audible warning signal.
 2. A warning device according to claim 1; including time delay means coacting with said electric circuit for delaying the development of said audible warning signal until said movable electric contact engages with one of said contact segments for a predetermined time period.
 3. A warning device according to claim 1; including positioning means for adjustably positioning said pair of contact segments along said arcuate path of travel to adjust the space therebetween thereby adjustably setting said range of relative wind directions.
 4. A warning device according to claim 3; wherein said positioning means comprises a manually movable member, and means responsive to manual movement of said member for effecting concurrent movement of said pair of contact segments either towards or away from each other depending upon the direction of movement of said member.
 5. A warning device according to claim 4; wherein said positioning means further comprises means defining a pair of arcuate slideways disposed along said arcuate path of travel, wherein said pair of contact segments comprise a pair of annular contact segments mounted for sliding movement in respective ones of said slideways, and wherein said means for effecting concurrent movement of said contact segments comprises a displaceable actuating lever pivotally connected at one end by means of a pin-and-slot connection to each contact segment whereby displacement of said actuating lever effects sliding actuation of both contact segments along said slideways, and displacing means for effecting displacement of said actuating lever in response to movement of said manually movable member.
 6. A warning device according to claim 5; wherein said displacing means for effecting displacement of said actuating lever comprises a toothed rack connected to said actuating lever, a toothed gear in mesh with said rack and mounted for rotation about a stationary axis whereby rotational movement of said gear effects displacement of said rack, and means connecting said manually movable member to said gear. 